Mankind makes tools, that is what helps to seperate us from the animals, and other beasts of burden…  Or at least that is what we tell ourselves…

But, has it become that we are so used to new inventions and devices that we are afraid of making our own?  Or that someone that is an inventory is obviously untrust worthy since he is not part of  a corporate entity?  What happened to the small inventor, that makes his own business?

This quote is From Hack a Day, regarding their editorial on the Fear of the Unusual.

As an engineer and as a writer for Hack a Day, I am used to seeing hardware in all kinds of states; from looking professionally done, to artfully constructed, to downright hackish. Unfortunately in today’s society of manufactured goods, most people just don’t have any experience with homemade electronics. Furthermore, because of a frenzied fear of terrorists, bombs, and IEDs, people who aren’t familiar with hacked or personally constructed hardware often assume the worst.

These assumptions can be inconvenient for some of us, when we have to explain that, “Yes, I made this myself. No, it isn’t dangerous”. The real tragedy is when fears like this are imposed onto children and students who have an interest in building something of their own. Recently there was a story about a middle school student from San Diegowho built a motion detector into a bottle.

Why are we so paranoid about technology?

As Isaac Asimov once said:

Knowledge has its dangers, yes, but is the response to be a retreat from knowledge? Are we prepared then to return to the ape and forfeit the very essence of humanity? Or is knowledge to be used as itself as a barrier against the danger it beings? In other words, Faust must indeed face Mephistopheles, but Faust does not have to be defeated!

Knives are manufactured with hilts so that they may be grasped safely, stairs possess banisters, electric wiring is insulated, pressure cookers have safety valves – in every artifact, thought is put into minimizing danger… Consider a robot, then, as simply another artifact. It is not a sacrilegious invasion of the domain of the Almighty, any more (or any less) than any other artifact is. (Asimov 1968b, p. 13-14)

We have robots and other mechanical servants that 50-60 years ago, seemed to be impossible, or just a figment of a bad Science-Fantasy film.  But are our Roomba’s going to revolt and upchuck their dust and dirt into our beds?  I doubt it.  There are more than 3 million Roomba’s that have shipped, and I haven’t heard of any fatalities from them…  Have you?

Knowledge, and Technology are not evil, bad, or inheritantly dangerous.  There is nothing odd or strange, about wanting to learn about your world.  Encourage experimentation with Technology…  Who knows, maybe you will be on the next Dragon’s Den.